Apple MacBook Air overview

1Description

The 11.6" MacBook Air Notebook Computer from Apple is a portable laptop computer with a thin and lightweight design. Apple's engineers have leveraged the lessons they learned in designing the miniaturized iPad and applied them to the design of this 3-pound computer.

To say that the Air is svelte is all at once stating the obvious and understating the truth. The system is defined by its unibody aluminum enclosure. At its thickest point the computer is only 0.68" -- it tapers down to 0.11" at its thinnest.

The system is loaded with 512GB of flash storage rather than an old-fashioned hard drive. Flash storage doesn't just give you a lighter, thinner computer. It also allows for impressive battery life -- up to 5.5 hours of web browsing and 30 days of standby time.

The MacBook Air is housed in an aluminum unibody enclosure, which is as strong as it is light. Because it is cut from a solid block of aluminum, the housing is stronger than those found on laptops built via traditional means.

At 11.6" in size, the 16:9 display features a native resolution of 1366 x 768. It features a glossy finish and LED backlight technology for enhanced image quality and energy efficiency.

Computers in the MacBook Air's weight class are most often classified in the "netbook" category. Netbooks typically feature less-than-full-size keyboards, cramped trackpads, and low-powered CPUs. Not so with the MacBook Air. This computer features a standard-size backlit chiclet keyboard, the same as on the larger computers in the MacBook line. It also has a large multi-touch glass trackpad, giving you full control over your computer -- without sacrificing ergonomics.

The computer is powered by a dual-core 2.0GHz Intel Core i7 processor and has 4GB of RAM. Graphics are provided by integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000. The computer features all the amenities you expect on a Mac -- a FaceTime webcam, dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and built-in stereo speakers.

iLife '11, a complete suite of digital creativity applications, is installed on the system. Easy enough for anyone to use, iLife will help you edit your home movies, organize digital photos, and compose original music.

The 64-bit OS features Time Machine backup, which automatically backs up system data to an external hard drive. It also features natural scrolling, the Launchpad application launcher and support for full screen applications. Mission Control combines the functionality of Dashboard, Exposé, and Spaces -- giving you a bird's eye view of everything that is happening on your computer.

The Auto Save feature on the MacBook Air ensures that you won't lose data, even when you forget to save a file. The OS tracks different versions of your documents, so you can go back to a previous draft of a document with ease. AirDrop makes it easy to transmit files wirelessly between computers, even if there is no central Wi-Fi network available. The revamped Mail application takes full advantage of modern widescreen displays.

And of course, you can expand the functionality of your computer system by browsing through the multitude of productivity applications, games, and other software that is available for purchase from the Mac App Store. Because the software in the store is curated by Apple, you can be sure that it is free of malware and safe to use. And, like the iOS App Store, you'll automatically be notified when updated versions of your favorite programs are available for download.

Design

Thin, Light, Durable. Thank You, Flash Storage

Even at less than an inch thin, MacBook Air sets a pretty high standard -- by making flash storage standard. Flash chips are very small, allowing MacBook Air to be incredibly thin and light. Flash is also solid state, meaning there are no moving parts. Which makes it reliable, durable, and quiet. And because Apple placed the flash chips directly on the logic board, they take up much less space -- about 90 percent less, in fact. That creates room for other important things, like a bigger battery. So you have a notebook that weighs almost nothing and runs for hours on a single charge. That's mobility mastered

The Best Way to Multi Touch on a Notebook

Multi-Touch technology is part of practically every Apple product. It's the best and most personal way to interact with your devices. And the optimal way to experience Multi-Touch on a notebook is through a trackpad. That's precisely the case with MacBook Air. The trackpad's spacious, all-glass surface doesn't have a button because the whole thing is the button. And with Multi-Touch gestures, you can interact with MacBook Air in ways that feel more intuitive and realistic than ever before

See Your QWERTY in Lights

Anyone can try to make a notebook that's thin and light. Success comes in doing it without cutting corners. That's why MacBook Air features a full-size keyboard, not a condensed version of what you're used to. When you type on the MacBook Air, it's just as comfortable as typing on a desktop keyboard. And now the keyboard is backlit, so you can type comfortably even in low-light conditions. A built-in sensor detects changes in the ambient lighting and adjusts the keyboard and display brightness automatically, giving you the perfect illumination in any environment

A Battery That Can Get You Through the Day. And the Month

If you looked inside MacBook Air, you'd see something remarkable: how much space is devoted to the battery. That's thanks to smaller components such as flash storage. And when the goal is to design the perfect notebook for everyday use, giving priority to the battery just makes sense. Put MacBook Air to sleep for more than an hour, and it enters what's called standby mode. That means you can come back to MacBook Air a day, a week -- even up to an entire month later -- and it wakes in an instant. Time is on your side, courtesy of MacBook Air

A Thing of Beauty. And Durability

MacBook Air features a unibody design for both the main enclosure and the display. Unibody construction means a higher-precision, less complex design with fewer parts. And that translates to a notebook that's exceptionally thin and light, yet durable enough to handle the rigors of everyday use

FaceTime Camera

Make video calls with a built-in FaceTime camera that's even smaller than the one inside iPhone 4

Features

Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 Ports

With the lightning-fast Thunderbolt port, you can connect your MacBook Air to the latest devices and displays, like the Apple Thunderbolt Display. But that's not the whole story. MacBook Air also comes equipped with two USB 3.0 ports, so you can connect the latest USB 3.0 devices and access a pipeline that's up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 With just a few connections, MacBook Air transforms from an ultraportable notebook to a complete workstation

All-Flash Storage

Devices like iPhone and iPad have already demonstrated the advantages of flash storage: reliability, speed, and efficiency. So the decision to use flash storage in an ultracompact notebook like MacBook Air made perfect sense. With flash, your computer starts up in almost no time and accesses data quickly. Flash also gives MacBook Air the astonishing ability to remain in standby mode for up to 30 days. Which means your MacBook Air snaps to in an instant, whether you open it tomorrow, next week, or next month

Backlit Keyboard

As incredibly compact as MacBook Air is, it still manages to fit a full-size keyboard that makes typing as natural as it is comfortable. And now the keyboard is backlit, so you can type with ease in even the dimmest light. A built-in ambient light sensor detects changes in lighting conditions and adjusts the display and keyboard brightness automatically. From a seat in a sunny caf&eacute, to a seat on a cross-country red-eye, you'll always have the perfect lighting for any environment

Multi-Touch Trackpad

The Multi-Touch gestures in OS X make everything you do on MacBook Air more intuitive, direct, and fun. And the spacious Multi-Touch trackpad is perfectly designed for them, whether it's a three-finger swipe to activate Mission Control or a four-finger pinch to see all your apps in Launchpad. Gesture responses are smooth and realistic. So when you're scrolling up and down a web page or swiping from one full-screen app to another, it's almost like you're touching what you're seeing

High-Resolution Display. Millions of Pixels. Millimeters Thin

Corner to corner and pixel by pixel, the MacBook Air display is both an engineering feat and a design breakthrough. The display measures a mere 0.19" (4.86mm) thin, yet the resolution is so high, you'll feel like you're looking at a much larger screen. And with good reason

FaceTime Camera. Your Smile Goes for Miles

The wafer-thin MacBook Air display houses something pretty huge: the FaceTime camera. It's so thin -- even thinner than the camera on iPhone 4 -- you barely notice it, but it's incredibly capable. Using the FaceTime for Mac app, you can make video calls with anyone who has a Mac, iPad 2, iPhone 4, or a camera-equipped iPod touch

Stereo Speakers. Heard but Not Seen

Despite its compact form, MacBook Air delivers full stereo sound. Space-efficient design inside the enclosure allows for the placement of left and right speakers that project sound through the keyboard. So you're able to enjoy a richer audio experience while chatting online, watching TV shows, listening to music, or playing games

Long-Lasting Battery

Since space-saving flash storage leaves room for a bigger battery, you can devote more time to the things you enjoy most. Things like browsing the web, editing photos, and watching videos. You'll get up to 5.5 hours of battery life on a single charge. Put MacBook Air to sleep, and it enters standby mode to conserve battery life for up to 30 days. When you come back to your MacBook Air and open it up, it's on in an instant

Connectivity

When you're wireless, you're truly mobile. That's why MacBook Air features 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 technology. Wireless connectivity allows you to browse the web, send e-mail, and print documents no matter where you are. MacBook Air weighs almost nothing, so you can go from room to room, dorm to dorm, or cubicle to cubicle and stay connected. Being wireless also means you can download apps from the Mac App Store anytime you want. With thousands of Mac apps available for download with just a few clicks, you don't have to bother with going to the store to buy software on disc or worry about a growing pile of CDs and DVDs. Apps download instantly right on your Mac. If plugged in is what you want to be, MacBook Air has you covered there, too. Two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, and a headphone port give you plenty of options. And the Thunderbolt port connects to the Apple Thunderbolt Display and high-speed Thunderbolt peripherals such as external hard drives.

Performance

Ivy Bridge Intel Core Performance

The MacBook Air features the 2.0GHz Intel Core i7 Intel processor. Along with fast DDR3 memory, the MacBook Air is able to multitask smoothly and seamlessly. MacBook Air also features the Intel HD Graphics 4000, which includes an on-chip engine for video encoding and decoding. That means you experience video playback and FaceTime calls that are smoother, more responsive, and more true to life

All-Flash Storage

"Wow, that was fast." With MacBook Air, you'll find yourself saying that a lot. Because flash storage is up to two times faster than a conventional hard drive, everything you do is more responsive and immediate -- starting up, browsing a large photo library, launching applications, and opening files, for instance. When you combine the speed of flash storage with a fast dual-core processor and power-efficient graphics, your entire MacBook Air experience feels turbocharged. And flash storage doesn't have any moving parts, which means it's more reliable and quiet. Lightning fast, durable, silent -- qualities that make sense in a notebook tasked with keeping up with you.

Mac OS X

Hardware and Software Made for Each Other

Since the software on every Mac is created by the same company that makes the Mac, you get a fully integrated system in which everything works together perfectly. OS X works with the processor in your Mac to deliver the best possible performance. The Multi-Touch trackpad on every Mac notebook gives you more than enough space to pinch, swipe, and tap your way around most of the apps on your system. OS X gives you long battery life by dimming the screen in low-light conditions and even regulating processor activity between keystrokes.

Interact with Your Computer in a Whole New Way

Tap, scroll, pinch, and swipe using Multi-Touch gestures, directly controlling what's on your screen in a more fluid, natural, and intuitive way. When you scroll down on your trackpad or Magic Mouse, your document scrolls down. When you scroll up, your web page scrolls up. When you swipe left, your photos move left. And there are many more gestures that make all you do on your Mac the best experience you can have on a computer. Hands down.

Easy to Use and Incredibly Powerful

From the desktop you see when you start up your Mac to the applications you use every day, everything is designed to be simple and intuitive. Of course, making amazing things simple requires some seriously advanced technologies, and OS X is loaded with them. Not only is it built on a rock-solid, time-tested UNIX foundation that provides unparalleled stability, it also delivers incredible performance, stunning graphics, and industry-leading support for Internet standards.

Easy Access to All of Your Apps

Working and playing on a Mac is all about apps, so OS X makes it simple to find and open those apps fast. The Dock is a handy place on your desktop for storing and launching your favorite apps, and it makes switching between them a breeze. The Dock also includes Stacks, folders that give you quick access to documents, files, and downloads. Launchpad is a full-screen home for all the apps on your Mac. It lets you arrange them the way you want, group them in folders, and delete them with ease. And apps purchased from the Mac App Store automatically appear in Launchpad, so you can browse thousands of apps and start using the ones you buy right away.

Find, Organize, and Share Files Fast

The Finder gives you easy access to all the files on your system. It lets you find, organize, and access practically everything on your Mac -- including applications, files, folders, discs, and shared computers on your network. You can sort files by kind, application, date modified, date added, or size. But with so many files on your computer, finding a specific one can be a challenge. Not on a Mac. Features like Spotlight and Quick Look make locating the file you're looking for effortless -- even if you don't know the filename. Say you're searching for a document, and the only thing you recall about it is the phrase "surrealist painters." Open Spotlight, start typing "surrealist painters," and your Mac generates a list of files that contain those words. And with Quick Look, you don't need to open an application to verify that you've found the right file - view a full-screen preview by hitting the space bar. Want to share a file with someone nearby? Just drag and drop to send it to the person wirelessly with AirDrop.

See Everything Running on Your Mac. In an Instant

OS X offers system wide support for gorgeous, full-screen apps that use every inch of your Mac display. You can have multiple full-screen apps open at once -- along with multiple apps in windows. And it's easy to switch between full-screen and desktop views. Mission Control gives you a bird's-eye view of all your windows and full-screen apps, and allows you to instantly navigate among them.

It Does the Saving for You

Say goodbye to the worry and the hassle of manually saving your work. Auto Save automatically saves your work, while you work, without you having to do a thing. Versions creates a new version of a document each time you open it and every hour while you're working. It saves only the differences between successive versions, so the impact on your disk drive is minimal. Just open Versions to see the current document next to a cascade of previous versions. You can copy and paste between versions or revert to an earlier version. And when you share a document, you share only the most recent copy.

Highly Secure by Design

OS X doesn't get PC viruses. And with virtually no effort on your part, the operating system protects itself from other malicious applications. Because every Mac ships with a secure configuration, you don't have to worry about changing complex settings in order to stay safe. Even better, OS X won't slow you down with constant security alerts and sweeps. Apple responds quickly to online threats and automatically delivers security updates. And with FileVault 2 in OS X, all the data on your Mac is protected by powerful encryption.

Built for Compatibility

The versatility and power of OS X help a Mac fit in just about anywhere -- including Windows networks. Want to transfer your files, photos, and other data from a Windows PC? OS X lets you do that easily. If you want to run Windows on your Mac, you can do that, too. OS X has built-in support for the latest version of Microsoft Exchange Server, so you can use your Mac at home and at work and keep all your messages, meetings, and contacts in one place. OS X works with virtually all of today's digital cameras, printers, and other peripherals without the need to manually download separate drivers. And it opens popular file types such as JPG, MP3, and PDF, as well as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.

Accessible Innovation

OS X comes standard with a wide range of assistive technologies that help people with disabilities experience what the Mac has to offer, including many features you won't find in other operating systems -- at any price. For example, built-in VoiceOver screen-reading technology, available in over 20 languages, makes it possible for those who are blind or have low vision to control their computers using key commands or gestures on a Multi-Touch trackpad. OS X also offers out-of-the-box support for more than 40 Braille displays (including Bluetooth displays) and many other accessibility features, such as dynamic full-screen magnification, playback of closed captions, and a scalable screen.

Reliable from the Very Start

Just about everything you do on a Mac -- even upgrading to the latest version of the OS -- is safe and reliable. OS X checks your applications to make sure they're compatible and sets aside any programs known to be incompatible. If a power outage interrupts your installation, OS X can start again without losing any data. Best of all, upgrading doesn't require reformatting your drive -- you keep all your compatible applications, files, and settings. And if something goes wrong when you're using your Mac, Time Machine is there to restore your data if needed.

Built-In Apps

iPhoto

iPhoto is an easy-to-use photo application that makes it fast and fun to organize and find your pictures, as well as make them look their absolute best. With features like Faces, Places, and Events, iPhoto helps you keep track of your photos by who's in them and when and where you took them -- all in an immersive full-screen view. Use quick and simple editing tools to make so-so shots picture perfect with just a few clicks. iPhoto even lets you share your photos with the world with beautiful photo books and letterpress cards or online via Facebook and Flickr.

iMovie

Don't settle for boring home movies. With iMovie, you can transform the videos you shoot into your very own indie flicks. Create a Hollywood-style trailer that'll make your audience laugh, cry, and cheer for more. If you know how to drag and drop, you can make a movie in iMovie. It comes with Apple-designed themes that look fun and professional. Just choose one and iMovie does the rest, adding animated titles and sophisticated transitions automatically. Customize your screen gem further with your own words and audio.

GarageBand

Whether you're musically gifted or mostly curious, GarageBand is the application for you. Plug in your electric guitar or USB music keyboard and get ready to rock with virtual replicas of the most revered amps and stompboxes in the world, as well as over 100 software instruments. Just because you didn't grow up learning your A, B, and C sharp doesn't mean you can't. Basic Lessons teach you just that: the basics. Choose from 40 lessons that cover blues guitar, rock guitar, classical piano, pop piano, and more. Or get a private lesson from one of your musical heroes, like Sting or Death Cab for Cutie, with Artist Lessons.1 GarageBand even tells you how well you're playing in real time with a feature called "How Did I Play?"

Mac App Store

Just like shopping the App Store on iPad, the Mac App Store offers endless possibilities to browse and purchase apps. Apps install in one step right to Launchpad. And the Mac App Store lets you know when app updates are available, so you always have the latest versions.

Safari

Designed with the Mac in mind, Safari emphasizes browsing, not the browser. In full-screen view, the browser frame is only a pixel wide, and you can hide almost the entire interface if you choose. So there's nothing to distract you from an article, video, or photo album. Navigating web pages is easy with trackpad gestures -- flip through web pages with a swipe, and double tap or pinch the trackpad to zoom in on text or images. Safari also features Reader, which lets you peruse articles sans annoying ads. Or save articles for later with Reading List. And since pages render fast in Safari, you won't miss a minute of the web.

Mail

Mail makes it easy to manage all your e-mail from a single, ad-free inbox. It features powerful search capabilities, with search suggestions and tokens built in. It works with most e-mail standards -- including POP3 and IMAP -- and popular e-mail services such as Gmail, Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, Cox, Yahoo! Mail, and AOL Mail. Mail supports Microsoft Exchange 2010, too. If you have more than one e-mail account, no problem. Add your accounts to Mail and you'll be able to access all your e-mail from one place.

And Mail looks as great as it works. It makes full use of your display with a gorgeous widescreen view featuring a full-height message and a message list that includes snippets. With Conversations, messages from the same thread appear in an elegant timeline showing each communication as it was sent while hiding redundant text.

iCal

Keep track of your busy schedule and share it with others using iCal. Create separate calendars -- one for home, another for school, a third for work, and so on. See all your calendars in a single window or choose to see only the calendars you want. iCal lets you create invitations using contact information from your Address Book, update your guest list, keep track of responses, and receive the latest status information. When you or another Mac user receives an iCal invitation via Mail, it's automatically added. iCal works with Yahoo! and Google calendars too, and syncs to iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, so you'll always be up to date on all your devices.

Address Book

With Address Book you have a flexible and convenient place to store contact information for everyone you know. You can import names, numbers, addresses, and photos from other applications, create smart groups for clubs, activities, and business purposes, print address labels and envelopes, and more. It syncs to iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch so there's no need for duplication. And since Address Book is built on vCard, an industry standard for storing contact information, your friends can send you cards that you can add simply by dropping them in -- no typing required.

Time Machine

Time Machine works with your Mac and an external hard drive or Time Capsule. Connect the drive, assign it to Time Machine, and start enjoying some peace of mind. Time Machine automatically backs up your entire Mac, including system files, applications, accounts, preferences, music, photos, movies, and documents. But what makes Time Machine different from other backup applications is that it not only keeps a spare copy of every file, it remembers how your system looked on any given day -- so you can revisit your Mac as it appeared in the past.

FaceTime

FaceTime for Mac makes it possible to talk, smile, and laugh with anyone on an iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPod touch, or another Mac from your Mac. So you can catch up, hang out, joke around, and stay in touch with just a click. And when someone tries to reach you, the call rings through on every Mac you own, even if FaceTime isn't running. So you never have to worry about making yourself available. If you don't want to receive calls, just turn FaceTime off in preferences. FaceTime is integrated with your Address Book so you can initiate chats easily.

Photo Booth

Take photo snapshots and video clips with your Mac using Photo Booth. Send them to your friends, use one as an iChat icon, add them to your Address Book, or organize and edit them in iPhoto. The real fun starts when you use the effects and backdrops in Photo Booth. Snap a photo of yourself at the Eiffel Tower or in outer space. Choose from nine effects that use facial tracking technology so effects look great whether you're front and center -- or left of center. Snap single photos or shoot multiples in a four-photo burst. You can even shoot video clips, complete with effects, then trim them right in Photo Booth and send them to friends and family. And since Photo Booth can be viewed full screen, you'll enjoy every detail down to the last pixel.

The Mac Experience

Every Day Use

Every Mac is designed to make your life easier, not more difficult. The system ships with all the tools you need for e-mail, personal organization, Internet browsing, watching movies, and more. Its software and hardware are designed work to together seamlessly, eliminating the compatibility nightmares that often plague PC users. What's more, the MacBook Air can run Windows via Boot Camp, perfect for users who have a Windows-only application that they absolutely need to use.

iLife '11

The included iLife '11 suite is a suite of applications that help you organize your digital life. It includes iPhoto for photo management and editing, iMovie for HD video editing, iDVD to burn your movies to disc, GarageBand for music production, and iWeb for web publishing.

Secure and Reliable

Worried about viruses and malware? Don't be. The MacBook Air isn't plagued by constant attacks from the outside world. It is designed to be secure out of the box, eliminating the need for additional software to protect your system from danger. OS X will warn you if a downloaded file is potentially dangerous, ensuring that you don't accidentally open a malicious application. Apple responds quickly to any security threats, prompting you to download updates that keep your Mac up to date and safe.

Advanced Technology, Standard

Powered by an Intel dual-core CPU, the MacBook Air is fully loaded with flash storage, 3D graphics, a FaceTime camera, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. You'll find features on this system that are foreign to the PC world, including the MagSafe power adapter design. A powerful 64-bit operating system built on a UNIX foundation is pre-installed on the system.

Environmentally Friendly Design

Apple understands that the Earth is our most precious resource. They've worked to create a computer that is energy efficient, free of many toxins, and highly recyclable. Because Apple designs both hardware and software, the MacBook Air is able to use a highly efficient power supply that reduces wasted power. The computer is free of mercury and arsenic, and its internal components are free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). When the computer reaches the end of its long life, you can rest assured that it can be recycled. It is constructed from materials that are highly desirable to recyclers. The MacBook Air has been awarded EPEAT Gold status for responsible manufacture, energy efficiency, and recyclability.

Tech Support

Have a problem with your Mac? Get support and advice at the Genius Bar, located at every Apple Retail Store. Apple also provides online tutorials, troubleshooting forums, and 90 days of phone support for users who aren't able to make it to an Apple store.

Optional AppleCare

Apple provides 90 days of free phone support and a 1-year limited hardware warranty on the computer. You can opt to add an AppleCare Protection Plan, at additional cost, which covers support and repairs for 3 years from the date of purchase. AppleCare can be purchased at any time within the first year of ownership of the computer.